Vitality Blast Preview | Gloucestershire vs Somerset
21 June 2024
Gloucestershire host the visit of Somerset for the West Country Derby in front of a sell-out crowd at the Seat Unique Stadium this evening.
The hugely-anticipated Vitality Blast fixture signals the resumption of the historic local rivalry and comes at a time when both teams are in good form. Gloucestershire go into the match fresh from a dramatic snatch-and-grab win away at Glamorgan last night, a victory that was spearheaded by Captain Jack Taylor’s 70 off 48 balls.
With five runs needed for victory it was bowler Josh Shaw’s huge six off the final ball of the over that saw Shire across the line in Cardiff. 142/8 was Gloucestershire’s total in reply to Glamorgan’s 140/6 and had Matt Taylor to thank, with 3-21, for helping to stunt Glamorgan’s batting attack.
Somerset, meanwhile, go into tonight’s match in second place in the South Group with 10 points from seven matches including four wins on the spin. In their last outing, also against Glamorgan, Somerset claimed an emphatic win by 108 runs in Cardiff.
Tonight’s visitors can reclaim top spot with a win over Gloucestershire while Mark Alleyne’s side will have their sights set on sneaking into the top-four ahead of the break from Vitality Blast action for the return of the County Championship.
TOWERGATE CHELTENHAM CRICKET FESTIVAL
A highlight of the cricket summer season is the Towergate Cheltenham Cricket Festival - two weeks of Gloucestershire cricket action with the Shire facing off in the various competitions at the College Ground, Cheltenham.
View the schedule and buy tickets
TEAM NEWS
Mark Alleyne selects an unchanged 14-man squad for the visit of Somerset.
Spinner Tom Smith misses out due to a back injury as does Zafar Gohar with a hamstring injury. Tom Price also remains sidelined due to an ongoing back injury.
Your 14-man squad to face Somerset: J Taylor*, Akhter, Bancroft, Bracey†, B Charlesworth, de Lange, Hammond, Payne, O Price, Shaw, Singh Dale, M Taylor, van Buuren, Webster
OUR OPPONENTS
Somerset have won five of their opening seven Vitality Blast matches so far this season with their only two defeats coming away from home against Kent and Surrey.
Their five wins have come against Glamorgan, Kent, Middlesex, Hampshire and Essex.
LAST MEETING
Last time the two sides met in Bristol, Somerset claimed an emphatic victory by an 80-run margin. Will Smeed hit a blistered 94 off 35 balls to propel the visitors to a massive total of 231/4.
Gloucestershire’s reply was largely blunted by the Somerset attack with Miles Hammond (61) and Ben Charlesworth (41) the only meaningful contributors to Shire’s 151 all out.
HOW TO WATCH
Gloucestershire will take on Somerset in the Vitality Blast at the Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol from 6:30pm tonight, Friday 21st June.
Watch every ball live via the Gloucestershire Cricket Match Centre, here
